Introduction

Good morning, family! Isn't it an absolute joy to gather together like this, to share in worship and fellowship, and to learn and grow together in our faith? I'm so glad you've joined us today, whether you're here in person or joining us online. We're all part of this beautiful, diverse, and vibrant community of believers.

Today, we're going to talk about something that's at the very heart of our Christian faith. It's something that we do together as a community, something that Jesus himself instituted and commanded us to continue. I'm talking, of course, about the Lord's Supper, also known as Communion or the Eucharist.

Before we get to that, let me share with you a quote from the brilliant Christian author, A.W. Tozer. He once said, "The Lord's Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death. To those who rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive it, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ." What a powerful reminder of what we're doing when we participate in the Lord's Supper!

The Significance of the Lord's Supper in Jesus' Teaching

When we look at the words of Jesus as he instituted the Lord's Supper, we see that he was doing something profound. He took simple, everyday elements - bread and wine - and gave them a new, deeper meaning. He said that the bread was his body, broken for us, and the wine was his blood, shed for us. This wasn't just a meal. It was a symbol, a sign, a reminder of his sacrifice for us.

The bread and the wine weren't just food and drink, they were meant for us to remember Jesus. Jesus said, "Remember me. Remember what I've done for you. Remember my love for you." Every time we take the bread and the wine, we're doing just that. We're remembering Jesus. We're remembering his sacrifice. We're remembering his love.

But there's more to it than just remembrance. When Jesus said, "This is my body" and "This is my blood," he was pointing to something deeper. He was pointing to his presence with us. When we take the bread and the wine, we're not just remembering Jesus. We're encountering him. We're meeting with him. We're experiencing his presence with us.

This is a profound and powerful truth. The Lord's Supper isn't just a ritual. It's not just a tradition. It's a way for us to encounter Jesus, to meet with him, to experience his presence with us. It's a way for us to remember his sacrifice, his love, his grace.

Now, let's look at the words of Jesus in more detail. When he took the bread, he gave thanks, broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you.' These words are packed with meaning.

The bread represents Jesus' body, broken for us. It's a symbol of his sacrifice, his suffering, his love. When we take the bread, we're remembering that Jesus gave his body for us. He suffered for us. He died for us.

But notice that Jesus didn't just say, 'This is my body.' He said, 'This is my body, which is for you.' Those last three words are crucial. They remind us that Jesus' sacrifice wasn't just a general act of love. It was a personal act of love. It was for you. It was for me. It was for each and every one of us.

The same is true of the wine. When Jesus took the cup, he said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood.' Again, these words are packed with meaning. The wine represents Jesus' blood, shed for us. It's a symbol of his sacrifice, his suffering, his love. When we take the wine, we're remembering that Jesus shed his blood for us. He suffered for us. He died for us.

But again, notice that Jesus didn't just say, 'This is my blood.' He said, 'This is the new covenant in my blood.' Those words 'new covenant' are crucial. They remind us that Jesus' sacrifice wasn't just a general act of love. It was a new covenant, a new promise, a new relationship between God and us. It was a promise of forgiveness, of grace, of eternal life.

So, when we take the Lord's Supper, we're not just remembering Jesus. We're encountering him. We're meeting with him. We're experiencing his presence with us. We're remembering his sacrifice, his love, his grace. We're remembering that he gave his body for us, that he shed his blood for us, that he made a new covenant with us.

The Lord's Supper as a Proclamation of Death in a Society of Stumbling Blocks and Folly

As we continue to reflect on the Lord’s Supper, we find ourselves drawn to the phrase, 'For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO